Rosse Franjepoot Phalaropus fulicaria fourageert in plastic soep

During windy weather on 29 Nov 2009, a foraging Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria was observed and photographed in the ferry harbour of Texel, The Netherlands. The phalarope had a few oily spots on the breast area but behaved normally and was actively feeding among the marine debris that had accumulated in converging surface currents close along the shore. Next to larger objects of debris, the flotsam also included numerous small plastic particles (‘Plastic Soup’). It was not possible to see whether the phalarope actually ingested plastic particles, but this is likely to occur. Earlier studies have shown that plastic ingestion is common in Grey Phalaropes, with plastic particles in 60%-90% of stomachs of ‘healthy’ birds examined. Averages of over 5 particles of plastic per bird, and extremes of several tens in single stomachs have been found. An average plastic mass of over 0.1g has been reported, which is a high value considering the size of the bird. Physical impacts of ingested plastics have been suggested to result in decreased body condition in Grey Phalaropes. Of concern is increasing evidence that toxic chemicals from seawater adsorb to marine plastic particles in high concentrations, and that these contaminants may be taken up by organisms that ingest such plastics.